How to earn the 18 recertification units (RUs) for your CMQ/OE® certification
The ASQ values, the caps that catch people out, three routes to 18 and the proof to keep.
In this guide
To recertify your Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence (CMQ/OE®) credential by journal, you need 18 recertification units (RUs) within three years. They are not hard to collect if you plan ahead, but one rule surprises many holders: your job alone cannot give you all 18. This guide shows how ASQ awards RUs, three example routes to 18 and what proof to keep.
Quick answer
You earn the 18 RUs in your three-year cycle from three groups: professional development (no maximum), employment (up to 10.8) and giving back (up to 6). One hour of training earns 0.1 RU, a conference day earns 1.0 RU and a certification earns 1.0 or 2.0 RUs. Every activity must tie into the CMQ/OE Body of Knowledge, and you should keep proof of each one.
| Requirement | 18 RUs in each 3-year cycle, or retake the exam |
| Professional development | No maximum |
| Employment | Maximum 10.8 RUs |
| Giving back | Maximum 6 RUs |
| Main rule | Every activity must tie into the Body of Knowledge |
| Where to log them | The ASQ online journal |
What are RUs, and how many do you need?
A recertification unit (RU) is ASQ’s credit for learning and work after you are certified, and you need 18 in every three-year cycle.
You may also hear them called continuing education units (CEUs), which is the general term for this kind of credit. ASQ’s word is RU. You log them in the ASQ online journal, and you can apply up to six months before your recertification date and up to 60 days after it. Credits earned after the date count toward your next application.
How does ASQ award RUs?
ASQ awards RUs in three groups, and employment and giving back have caps.
| Group | Activity | RUs | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional development | Continuing education, as learner or instructor | 0.1 per hour | None |
| Professional development | Conference or workshop | 1.0 per day | None |
| Professional development | Seminar or meeting | 0.1 per hour | None |
| Professional development | ASQ certification / other certification | 2.0 / 1.0 each | None |
| Professional development | Book author or editor / co-author | 4.0 / 2.0 | None |
| Professional development | Article author / co-author; presented paper | 1.0 / 0.5; 1.0 | None |
| Employment | Full-time / part-time work | 0.3 / 0.15 per month | 10.8 total |
| Giving back | Volunteering | 0.1 per hour | 1.0 |
| Giving back | Professional membership | 0.5 per year | 1.5 |
| Giving back | Mentoring | 0.1 per hour | 1.5 |
| Giving back | Committees | 1.5 per year | 4.5 |
The whole giving back group is capped at 6 RUs. See the ASQ recertification page and its handbook for the current values, since ASQ updates them.
Not certified yet? Prepare for the CMQ/OE® exam with live virtual instructor-led training.
What are the fastest ways to reach 18 RUs?
Most holders combine work, training and one or two extras, because work alone stops at 10.8.
Three full years of full-time work gives the 10.8 maximum, so you still need 7.2 RUs, which is 72 hours of continuing education. These three routes are illustrations, not promises, and ASQ decides what it accepts.
| Route | What it adds up to | Total |
|---|---|---|
| A: Work and training | Full-time work for 36 months (10.8) + 72 hours of continuing education (7.2) | 18.0 |
| B: Work, certification and events | Full-time work 36 months (10.8) + a 35-hour PMP® course (3.5) + passing the PMP (1.0) + 2 conference days (2.0) + 7 seminar hours (0.7) | 18.0 |
| C: Between jobs | 100 hours of continuing education (10.0) + an ASQ certification (2.0) + another certification (1.0) + 2 conference days (2.0) + membership and mentoring (3.0) | 18.0 |
In Route B, the course hours must tie into the Body of Knowledge, and the 1.0 RU applies only if you pass the certification. A course completion certificate alone does not earn certification credit. See our PMP certification training and PMP eligibility guide if a second credential is on your list.
RU calculator
An estimate for planning. Enter what you did in this cycle. ASQ’s caps are applied, and ASQ decides what it accepts.
You have 14.7 of 18 RUs. Still needed: 3.3
Employment 7.2 (max 10.8), professional development 6, giving back 1.5 (max 6). Every activity must tie into the Body of Knowledge, and you need proof for each.
The preloaded example gives 14.7 RUs, so 3.3 are still needed. Co-authored books and articles are not included; add them from the table.
When should you collect RUs, and what proof should you keep?
Collect them throughout the three years, and keep proof of every activity from the day you do it.
Save a certificate, attendance record, receipt or employer letter for each activity, with the date and hours. ASQ asks you to upload documents in the online journal and says its handbook explains the evidence, so read it early. Do not leave this to year three: records are easy to lose, and the journal cannot be completed without them. Also remember that continuing education hours cannot be claimed twice if they are also part of your employment.
What does not count toward your 18 RUs?
Activities outside the Body of Knowledge, duplicates and anything after your recertification date do not count.
- Activities unrelated to the Body of Knowledge. Each one must tie into at least one area.
- Duplicate credit. The same hours cannot count as both employment and continuing education.
- A course certificate as certification credit. Only a certification earns the 1.0 or 2.0 RUs.
- Anything above a cap. Employment stops at 10.8 and giving back at 6.
- Credits after your recertification date. They apply to your next application.
Want help preparing for the exam route? Ask about our CMQ/OE® course and how the training is structured.
What if you cannot reach 18 RUs?
You can retake the exam, but only the journal route has a grace period.
ASQ accepts journal applications up to 60 days after your recertification date. After that, only the exam route remains, and if you do not recertify you must stop using the credential. Read our full guide on whether you must renew your CMQ/OE for the deadlines and the certificate dates.
Frequently asked questions
How many recertification units do you need for the CMQ/OE?
You need 18 recertification units (RUs) in each three-year cycle, or you can retake the exam instead. The American Society for Quality (ASQ) lets you earn them from professional development, employment and giving back, and every activity must tie into the Body of Knowledge.
Can you earn all 18 CMQ/OE recertification units from your job?
No. Employment is capped at 10.8 recertification units (RUs), which is three years of full-time work at 0.3 RU a month. You still need at least 7.2 RUs from professional development or giving back, for example 72 hours of continuing education.
How many recertification units does one hour of training earn?
One hour of continuing education earns 0.1 recertification unit (RU), as a learner or as an instructor. Seminars and meetings are also 0.1 RU per hour, and a conference or workshop day earns 1.0 RU. The American Society for Quality (ASQ) requires each activity to tie into the Body of Knowledge.
Does a certificate of course completion count as certification credit?
No. The American Society for Quality (ASQ) awards certification credit, 2.0 recertification units (RUs) for an ASQ certification and 1.0 RU for another certification, only for a certification. A certificate of course completion does not qualify, although the training hours may earn continuing education credit.
What is the maximum for giving back?
Giving back is capped at 6 recertification units (RUs) per cycle. Within it, volunteering is capped at 1.0 RU, professional membership at 1.5 RUs, mentoring at 1.5 RUs and committees at 4.5 RUs, according to the American Society for Quality (ASQ).
When do you need to submit your recertification units?
You can apply through the American Society for Quality (ASQ) online journal up to six months before your recertification date and up to 60 days after it. Credits earned after your recertification date count toward your next application.
What if you cannot reach 18 recertification units?
You can retake the CMQ/OE exam instead. After the 60-day grace period, the American Society for Quality (ASQ) offers only the exam route, and without recertification you must stop using the credential.
Does 3FOLD Training guarantee that I pass the CMQ/OE exam?
No. 3FOLD Training prepares you for the CMQ/OE exam, and the American Society for Quality (ASQ) examines and certifies. We cannot guarantee a result, and ASQ decides which activities earn recertification units.
Where 3FOLD fits
3FOLD Training is licensed by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) in Dubai. Our CMQ/OE® exam preparation is delivered over four Sundays as live virtual instructor-led training aligned with the ASQ Body of Knowledge, with one-year Learning Management System (LMS) access, recorded videos, module-wise quizzes, mock exams, exam application guidance, one year of free retraining and a certificate of completion. We prepare you; ASQ examines and certifies, and we cannot guarantee a pass. Send your questions through the course inquiry form.
Next step: thinking about the CMQ/OE®? Ask our team about the course, the exam and what comes after.
Leave a reply